Percussion-fuse for projectiles



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Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Fig. 2.

E. SCHNEIDERI PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTI I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. I919- RENEWED 1,352,544.

I a l MT L a W2. AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES E. SCHNElDER.

PERCUSSION FUSE FOB PROJECTILES. APPLICATION HLED MAR 31, 19:9. RENEWED JULY 21, 1920. 1 52,544, Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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W2 AMMUNITION AND M r EXPLOSIVE DEVICES E. SCHNEIDER. PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTILES. APPLICATION FILED MAR.311919. RENEWED JUL 21, 1,352,544.

' PatentedSept. 14, 1920. V 5 SHEETSSHEET 3- W2. AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES E. SCHNEIDER. PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTILES. APPLICATION FILED MAR-33,1919. RENEWED JULY 21,1920.

1 52,544, PatenmdSept. 14, 1920.

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PERCUSSKON FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES. APPLICATION man MAR. 31. 1919. RENEWED JULY 21,1920.

1 352, 544:. Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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W2. AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SCHNEIDER & CIR, OF PARIS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed March 31, 1919, Serial No. 286,489. Renewed July 21, 1920. Serial No. 398,031.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improved Percussion-F uses for Projectiles, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved percussion fuse for projectiles.

The improved fuse is characterized essentially by an apparatus that prevents premature firing, for which purpose the firing mechanism is cocked by the moving apart of the striker and the percussion cap. This moving apart is effected under the action of a spring whose tension can be so adjusted that it shall be able to expand, in view of the cooking of the striker, only from the instant when the counteraction of the resistance offered by the air to the progress of the projectile, has become sufficiently reduced, which will take place only at a point of the trajectory at which the cooking can take place without inconvenience.

In other words, according to this inven tion, a recoil movement of determined extent, has to be performed by the striker before it can make an entering or return movement capable of causing the firing. For this purpose segments that constitute a shoulder for the striker and prevent the latter from moving toward the percussion cap, are in their turn prevented from moving out of the way because they are held by being situated between the fuse body and the striker body so long as the striker has not made the desired recoil movement.

Two constructional forms of this invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a first constructional form.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial section of the fuse in the position of rest.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4- are similar sections showing the parts in the positions they occupy during the travel of the projectile, respectively in the gun barrel, at an intermediate point of the trajectory, and on impact against the target.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sections respeciively on the lines V-V and VI-VI of Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a section of the safety ring on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5.

Figs. 9 to 14 illustrate a second constructional example of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal section of the fuse on the line IX-IX of Fig. 14:, in the state of rest.

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are sections similarto Fig. 9, showing the parts of the fuse ments F by means of a shoulder E which, in

this first constructional example, is formed on a sleeve D that is guided on the fuse body.

These segments are held normally in place in a groove a in the fuse body A by the free edge of the sleeve D.

i The amount of the recoil movement which is to be made by the striker in order to release the segments F and allow them to escape by centrifugal action, is determined by the height H of the edge of the sleeve that covers the said segments.

WVhile at rest (Fig. 1) all forward movement of the striker toward the percussion cap is prevented by the segments F against which the striker bears. All movement of the striker away from the percussion cap is prevented by bolts I which are movable in guides a formed in the body A and are held in place by the engagement of a neck 2' in a, notch j in a safety ring or annular slide J.

This ring is held, while at rest, in its locking position by a spring G bearing at one end under the lower end of the said ring, and bearing at its other end upon the fixed percussion cap carrier B.

The lower or rear portion of reduced internal diameter, of the ring J in the state of rest (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) thus keeps clamped in a reduced portion C of the stem of the striker, two flexible blades K which have a constant tendency to open outward.

On the shot being fired, the annular slide or ring J having a suitably determined mass for this purpose, remains behind owing to its inertia and thus compresses the spring Gr, assuming the position shown in Fig. 2. In this movement, as soon as the portion of reduced internal diameter of the ring J has moved beyond the lower edge of the blades K the latter open and enter the portion of largest diameter of the ring (Figs. 2 and 7 while being retained in the reduced portion C of the stem of the striker.

The parts retain this position during the entire duration of the acceleration; the segments F remaining confined in groove on of the fuse body between the latter and the sleeve D that is fixed to the striker.

When the acceleration has ceased, and the diminution in the resistance to the advance of the projectile has allowed the spring G to overcome this resistance and to expand, the ring J is forced forward. As soon as the shoulder j of this ring meets the blades K, it carries by means of the latter, the striker C and the sleeve D along with it.

The cocking of the striker, that is to say, the possibility of the striker moving toward the percussion cap, is effected only at the instant when the striker being forced toward the rear, has thus made a recoil movement through the distance H which is suflicient to uncover the segments F and allow them to be driven outward by centrifugal action (Fig.

In the example shown in Figs. 9 to 14 the segments for holding back the striker have a portion F of larger diameter which is held when at rest, between a shoulder E of the body of the striker and the forward end A of the fuse body A, by reason of a portion F of reduced diameter of the said segments becoming engaged between the fuse body and a reduced portion C of the body of the striker.

While at rest, the recoil of the striker is prevented by the safety ring or annular slide J bearing against the spring G and a means of locking the said ring. This locking means comprises a counter-ring M whose internal diameter is equal to that of the body of the striker C and the rear re duced inner portion of the ring J. The rear portion of the counter-ring engages in the forward portion of larger diameter of the ring J. Two recesses in the counter-ring receive two bolts I of segment-shape which, when at rest, are kept pressing against a reduced portion C of the body of the striker by a spring I that is arranged in a groove in the said bolts and in a groove on in the counter-ring M.

On the shot being fired the annular slide or ring J remains behind by reason of its own inertia, and the counter-ring M tends to force back the bolts I. These however are held in the reduced portion C of the body of the striker until the forward end of the ring J has moved past their rear edges and has allowed them to move slightly apart and be forced by the thrust of, the counter-ring M, away from the chamfer c, as shown in Fig. 10.

As soon as the counter-ring M and the bolts I have come opposite the reduced portion C the spring I will move the bolts I toward each other, and the combination MI-IJ will assume as a whole the position shown in Fig. 11, which said position it will retain to the end of the acceleration and up to the instant when the resistance to the advance of the projectile will have become sufiiciently diminished to allow the action of the spring G to predominate. This said action causes the striker to recoil for the purpose of being cocked. This cocking can only take place, and the striker can move toward the percussion cap only after the segments F have been ejected which requires that the recoil shall be equal to the distance H that is determined by the height of the portion F of the said segments. The recoil is produced by the striker being carried along as soon as the combination JI-M has recoiled in its turn as a whole to the point where the segments I come against the chamfer 0 Fig. 12 shows the parts of the fuse in the cooked position of the striker.

Fig. 13 shows the same parts in the position they occupy when the projectile has struck the target.

In the hereinbefore described examples, the moving apart of the striker and the percussion cap which is necessary for cocking the firing mechanism is assumed to be effected by an apparatus comprising a movablestriker and a stationary percussion cap carrier.

It is however to be understood that the reverse arrangement may be adopted for the two elements of the said apparatus; that is to say, the striker may be stationary and the percussion cap carrier may be movable.

What I claim is 1. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the inner end of said bore, a striker movtill flilillMUNlT ION AND lllltfLOSIVE DEVICES tit i I in) able in the axial bore having a head projecting beyond the body-part operating on impact to drive the striker inward onto the cap-carrier, a spring normally pressing the striker outward, centrifugally actuated bolts slidable in the body-part to engage the striker to hold the latter inward against the outward thrust of the sprin ,said bolts moving outwardly to release t e striker in response to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile, and displaceable segments interposed between the body-part and an element of the striker to limit the inward movement of the striker toward the cap-carrier, said segments being freed by the forward movement of the released striker imparted by the spring, the freed segments responding to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile to move clear of the striker to permit subsequent inward movement of the latter onto the capcarrier.

2. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the inner end of said bore, a striker mov able in the axial bore having a head projecting beyond the body-part operating on impact to drive the strike; inward onto the cap-carrier, a spring normally pressing the striker outward, centrifugally actuated bolts slidable in the body-part to engage the striker to hold the latter inward against the outward thrust of the spring, said bolts moving outwardly to release the striker in response to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile, an annular slide movable on the striker in said axial bore to engage the bolts to hold them in engagement with the striker, said slide operating through its inertia at the discharge of the projectile to move inward in the bore to free the bolts to respond to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the projectile, and displaceable segments interposed between the body-part and an element of the striker to limit the inward movement of the striker toward the capcarrier, said segments being freed by the forward movement of the released striker imparted by the spring, the freed segments responding to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile to move clear of the striker to permit subsequent inward movement of the latter onto the cap-carrier.

3. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the inner end of said bore, a striker movable in the axial bore having a head projecting beyond the body-part operating on impact to drive the striker inward onto the cap-carrier, a spring normally pressing the striker outward, centrifugally actuated bolts slidable in the body-part to engage the striker to hold the latter inward against the outward thrust of the spring, said bolts moving outwardly to release the striker in response to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile, an annular slide movable on the striker in said axial bore and pressed outwardly by said spring to engage the bolts to hold the latter in engagement with the striker, said annular slide operating through its inertia at the discharge of the projectile to move inward to compress the spring and to free the bolts to respond to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the projectile, said spring after overcoming the inertia of the annular slide operating to press outwardly said slide together with the striker to project the head of the latter beyond the body-part, and displaceable segments interposed between the body-part and an element of the striker to limit the inward movement of the striker toward the cap-carrier, said segments being freed by the forward movement of the released striker imparted by the spring, the freed segments responding to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile to move clear of the striker to permit subsequent inward movement of the latter onto the capcarrier.

4. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the inner end of said bore, a striker movable in the axial bore having a head projecting beyond the body-part operating on impact to drive the striker inward onto the cap-carrier, a spring normally pressing the striker outward, centrifugally actuated bolts slidable in the body-part to engage the striker to hold the latter inward against the outward thrust of the spring, said bolts moving outwardly to release the striker in response tothe centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile, an annular slide movable on the striker in said axial bore and pressed outwardly by said spring to engage the bolts to hold the latter in engagement with the striker, spring blades between the annular slide and the striker, said annular slide operating through its inertia at the discharge of the projectile to move inward to compress the spring and to free the bolts to respond to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the projectile, said spring after overcoming the inertia of the annular slide operating to press outwardly said slide, the latter in its outward movement engaging the lower ends of the spring blades, which are in engagement at their upper ends with the striker, to force outwardly said striker to project the head of the latter beyond the body-part, and displaceable segments interposed between the body-part and an element of the striker to limit the inward movement of the striker toward the cap-carrier, said segments being freed by the forward movement of the released striker imparted by the spring, the freed segments responding to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile to move clear of the striker to permit subsequent inward movement of the latter onto the cap-carrier.

5. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the inner end of said bore, a striker movable in the axial bore having a head projecting beyond the body-part operating on impact to drive the striker inward onto the cap-carrier, a spring normally pressing the striker outward, centrifugally actuated bolts slidable in the body-part to engage the striker to hold the latter inward against the outward thrust of the spring, said bolts moving outwardly to release the striker in response to the centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the discharged projectile, a sleeve fixed to the forward end of the striker and extending over the body-part, and displaceable segments seated in a groove in the body-part and abutting a shoulder on the overlapping sleeve to limit the inward movement of the striker toward the capcarrier, said segments being freed on the outward movement of the sleeve when so carried by the striker, the freed segments being displaced by centrifugal force imparted by the rotation of the projectile to permit subsequent inward movement of the striker onto the cap-carrier.

6. A percussion fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with a cap-carrier at the rear end of said bore, a striker having a shank movable in said axial bore and provided with an impact head, displaceable segments interposed between an element of the fuse body-part and an element of the striker to prevent premature rearward movement of the striker toward the cap-carrier, locking mechanism including bolts to engage the striker-shank to hold the striker at the limit of its rearward movement to which it is restricted by the interposed segments, an annular slide slidable on the striker-shank operating in its initial forward position to hold the bolts in locked engagement with the striker-shank, a cocking spring normally pressing the annular slide forward, said annular slide at the discharge of the projectile moving rearward by its inertia against the action of the cocking spring to free the bolts to be actuated to release the striker-shank, said cocking spring during the flight of the projectile and the lessening acceleration thereof predominating the inertia of the annular slide to move the latter forward, and means for imparting the forward movement of the annular slide to the striker-shank to move the striker forward to cocked position, the forward movement of the striker releasing the segments to be displaced by centrifugal action imparted by the rotation of the projectile to permit rearward movement of the striker onto the cap-carrier when the impact head strikes a target.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. 

